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Every year CFDA/Vogue holds its fancy, celeb-filled soiree to announce the winner of its award for designers. The winner gets $300,000 plus mentoring from fashion industry professionals. The two runners-up get $100,000 each plus mentoring.

Behold this year’s winners who were all clearly hard up for cash and connections

Runners UpJennifer Meyer Maguire: She’s a jewelry designer who’s married to actor Tobey Maguire. Her dad is Universal Studios president Ron Meyer. Her celeb clients and friends include Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, and Reese Witherspoon . So as you can see she desperately needs both financing and connections. It’s not like she can roll over in bed and ask Tobey-poo to break her off from their joint account or ask her loaded Daddy for funds. It’s better that she accept money that could go to talented designers who actually need it.

Tabitha Simmons:Former Model and shoe designer and who happens to be married to one of the top fashion photographers in the World— Craig McDean . Craig shoots for lowly-regarded magazines like Vogue & W and has done campaigns for little known brands like Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein…etc. It’s doubtful that his income and connections with stylists, designers, and editors along with her own connections from modeling would have been of any use to Simmons though. While you mull that over you can check out pics of their Chelsea apartment that was featured in Vogue—and you know Vogue only features the homes of really poor people.

Seriously, how you gonna have a fund that gives money and mentorship to people who are already wealthy and well-connected?

ONTDers who have design aspirations—you needn’t worry. All you have to do is be born rich or marry someone rich then walk by Anna Wintour’s office and you’re all set.

But how do you go about making the right connections or networking at the in the right environment when you're already ¨shut out¨ from the beginning because you don't have them. I have no idea if I'm making any sense lol.